Key to Common Core is getting it right, Florida state leaders say

Asked for his "high level agenda points" for the 2013 legislative session, Florida education commissioner Tony Bennett told the Senate Education Policy Committee on Wednesday morning that the Common Core State Standards top his list.

"It will transform the way our children learn. The Common Core will transform the way teachers teach," said Bennett, a national leader in the movement to the new standards.

The greatest challenge, he said, is to make sure the state doesn't lose the opportunity to make the move properly. Implementation is key, Bennett stressed.

Doing it right is exactly what state Rep. Mike Clelland, D-Lake Mary, had in mind when he filed his bill Tuesday seeking to extend by two years the deadline to have the CCSS fully operational in Florida schools. Though Clelland, a lawyer, has been in the Legislature just a few weeks now, he said the need for more deliberate action was obvious.

"It's pretty clear to me the so-called accountability measures and Common Core standards raise more questions than answers for teachers and local districts," Clelland told the Gradebook. "My bill seeks to give more time to come up with clarity and fairness."

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.